Tuition & Fees
Cost of Attendance
An affordable private college education is possible. Together, we can build a future worthy of your dreams.
Ranked a Best Value School among regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report, BVU is committed to keeping college tuition affordable.
College is a life-changing investment, and Buena Vista University is committed to keeping college tuition affordable. That’s why 100 percent of our students who apply for financial aid receive it.
Storm Lake Campus
2026-2027
- Tuition & Fees: Living on Campus
| Full-time tuition | $44,214 |
| | $22,107 per semester |
| Food and housing | $12,757 |
| | $6,903 Pierce/White/Liberty housing, $5,854 food |
| Total | $56,971 |
In addition, we add $4,093 to the estimated total cost of attendance when determining dependent financial need to cover expenses such as books, entertainment, travel expenses, etc., for a residential student as follows:
| Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $1,430 |
| Transportation | $1,960 |
| Misc. | $634 |
| Loan Fee | $69 |
This creates a total cost of attendance, used for financial need determination, for current residential students of $61,064. Your actual cost of attendance will be based on residence and meal plan options.
Residence Options
- Additional charges apply for other residence halls and room options.
Meal Plan Options
• Marquis Meal Plan: $5,854 with $50/semester Beaverbucks (Required for first-year students)
• 14-meal food plan: $5,854 with $175/semester Beaverbucks (Required for first-year students)
• 12-meal food plan; $5,302 with $175/semester Beaverbucks
• 7-meal food plan: $2,500 with $50/semester Beaverbucks (For apartment residents only)
- Tuition & Fees: Living With a Parent
| Full-time tuition | $44,214 |
| | $22,107 per semester |
| Living allowance | $6,589 |
| Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $1,430 |
| Transportation | $1,050 |
| Misc. | $634 |
| Loan Fee | $69 |
| Total | $53,986 |
- Tuition & Fees: Commuting, Not Living With a Parent
| Full-time tuition | $44,214 |
| | $22,107 per semester |
| Living allowance | $10,197 |
| Books, course materials, supplies, equipment | $1,430 |
| Transportation | $2,157 |
| Misc. | $7,255 |
| Loan Fee | $69 |
| Total | $65,322 |
Storm Lake Campus
2025-2026
- Tuition & Fees: Living on Campus
| Full-time tuition | $43,052 |
| | $21,526 per semester |
| Food and housing | $11,400 |
| | $5,546 Pierce/White/Liberty housing, $5,854 food |
| Total | $54,452 |
In addition, we add $4,578 to the estimated total cost of attendance when determining dependent financial need to cover expenses such as books, entertainment, travel expenses, etc. for a residential student as follows:
| Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $2,018 |
| Transportation | $1,876 |
| Misc. | $616 |
| Loan Fee | $68 |
This creates a total cost of attendance, used for financial need determination, for current residential students of $59,030. Your actual cost of attendance will be based on residence and meal plan options.
Residence Options
- Additional charges apply for other residence halls and room options.
Meal Plan Options
• Marquis Meal Plan: $5,854 with $50/semester Beaverbucks (Required for first-year students)
• 14 meal food plan: $5,854 with $175/semester Beaverbucks (Required for first-year students)
• 12 meal food plan; $5,302 with $175/semester Beaverbucks
• 7 meal food plan: $2,500 with $50/semester Beaverbucks (For apartment residents only)
- Tuition & Fees: Living With a Parent
| Full-time tuition | $43,052 |
| | $21,526 per semester |
| Living allowance | $6,498 |
| Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $2,018 |
| Transportation | $1,005 |
| Misc. | $616 |
| Loan Fee | $68 |
| Total | $53,257 |
- Tuition & Fees: Commuting, Not Living With a Parent
| Full-time tuition | $43,052 |
| | $21,526 per semester |
| Living allowance | $16,181 |
| Books, course materials, supplies, equipment | $2,018 |
| Transportation | $1,999 |
| Misc. | $616 |
| Loan Fee | $68 |
| Total | $63,934 |
Average Aid for New Undergraduate Students on Our Storm Lake Campus
All Financial Aid
$38,000
Scholarships and Grants only
$30,000
BVU Online
2025-2026
Tuition rate: $495 per credit hour
In addition to the tuition charge, we also include an allowance for living expenses (including travel) and books in a student's expected cost of attendance. All undergraduate students will be assessed a one-time $90 graduation fee for their final semester.
- Full-Time Student: Living with a Parent
| Full time student living with a parent | Tuition | $17,820 |
| | 36 credits taken terms 1-6 | |
| | Books | $1,656 |
| | Food | $2,442 |
| | Transportation | $1,659 |
| | Misc. Personal Expenses | $5,277 |
| | Computer Allowance | $600 |
| | Loan Fee | $64 |
| | Total | $29,518 |
- Full-Time Student: Not Living with a Parent
| Full time student not living with a parent | Tuition | $17,820 |
| | 36 credits taken terms 1-6 | |
| | Books | $1,656 |
| | Housing & Food | $13,089 |
| | Transportation | $2,667 |
| | Misc. Personal Expenses | $8,484 |
| | Computer Allowance | $600 |
| | Loan Fee | $64 |
| | Total | $44,380 |
BVU Online
2024-2025
Tuition rate: $475 per credit hour
In addition to the tuition charge, we also include an allowance for living expenses (including travel) and books in a student's expected cost of attendance. All undergraduate students will be assessed a one-time $90 graduation fee for their final semester.
- Full-Time Student: Living with a Parent
| Full time student living with a parent | Tuition | $17,100 |
| | 36 credits taken terms 1-6 | |
| | Books | $1,764 |
| | Food | $2,376 |
| | Transportation | $1,614 |
| | Misc. Personal Expenses | $5,133 |
| | Computer Allowance | $600 |
| | Loan Fee | $71 |
| | Total | $28,658 |
- Full-Time Student: Not Living with a Parent
| Full time student not living with a parent | Tuition | $17,100 |
| | 36 credits taken terms 1-6 | |
| | Books | $1,764 |
| | Housing & Food | $12,732 |
| | Transportation | $2,595 |
| | Misc. Personal Expenses | $8,127 |
| | Computer Allowance | $600 |
| | Loan Fee | $71 |
| | Total | $42,989 |
Graduate Programs Financial Aid
Alongside personal financial planning, our financial assistance program is designed to make it possible for all students to attend BVU.
Graduate Programs
2025-2026
- Tuition Cost Breakdown (per credit hour)
| Master of Education-Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction | $310 |
| Master of Education in Special Education | $310 |
| Master of Education in Educational Administration | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary Education | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership | $495 |
| Master of Science in Education Professional School Counseling | $495 |
| Master of Science in Education Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $495 |
- Graduate Fees 2025-2026
| Graduation Fee | $140 |
| Background Check | $50 |
| Student Teaching Fee for 12 hours of student teaching | $436 |
| Clinical Site Supervision Fee – Professional School Counseling | $300 |
| Residency Fee (each residency) Professional School & Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $125 each residency |
| Assessment Portfolio Fee – Clinical Mental Health (one time only) | $220 |
| Software fee – Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $199 |
| CPCE Exam Fee (Term 6, year 2, one time only) – Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $150 |
| Books (estimated at $49/credit hours, 3 credits per term) | $882 |
| Loan Fee | $113 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Application Fee
*This is a non-refundable deposit required to hold your seat at acceptance. It applies to tuition and fees upon starting the program.
| $250 |
Indirect Costs for Graduate Students 2025-2026
In addition to the amounts listed above, housing, food, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, and computer allowance are estimated at $24,840 for a student living independently off-campus and $9,978 for a student living with a parent. These amounts are built into your cost of attendance budget but are not expenses you will pay to BVU.
Graduate Programs
2024-2025
- Tuition Cost Breakdown (per credit hour)
| Master of Education-Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction | $300 |
| Master of Education in Special Education | $300 |
| Master of Education in Educational Administration | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary Education | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education | $495 |
| Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership | $565 |
| Master of Science in Education Professional School Counseling | $565 |
| Master of Science in Education Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $592 |
- Graduate Fees 2024-2025
| Graduation Fee | $140 |
| Background Check | $40 |
| Student Teaching Fee for 12 hours of student teaching | $436 |
| Clinical Site Supervision Fee – Professional School Counseling | $139 |
| Residency Fee (each residency) Professional School & Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $100 each residency |
| Assessment Portfolio Fee – Clinical Mental Health (one time only) | $215 |
| Software fee – Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $299 |
| CPCE Exam Fee (Term 6, year 2, one time only) – Clinical Mental Health Counseling | $150 |
| Books (estimated at $49/credit hours, 3 credits per term) | $882 |
| Loan Fee | $133 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Application Fee
*This is a non-refundable deposit required to hold your seat at acceptance. It applies to tuition and fees upon starting the program.
| $250 |
Indirect Costs for Graduate Students 2024-2025
In addition to the amounts listed above, housing, food, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, and computer allowance are estimated at $24,054 for a student living independently off-campus and $9,723 for a student living with a parent. These amounts are built into your cost of attendance budget but are not expenses you will pay to BVU.
